American tourists travelling to Italy have been urged to “exercise increased caution” due to the risk of terrorism, as the US state department raises its travel advisory for the country.
The Level 2 advisory, issued on 23 May, warns US citizens of the “risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy”.
Italy previously had the basic Level 1 advisory shared by most countries in Europe, advising travellers to “exercise normal precautions” when visiting.
“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning”, the updated advisory for Italy states, urging caution when visiting areas including tourist attractions, airports, religious sites, sporting and cultural events, local government buildings, and “hotels, clubs and restaurants”.
US travellers in Italy are advised to stay alert in tourist spots, check local media for breaking news, and be prepared to adjust their plans.
They are also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the US embassy, and to “prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations”.
The US has four levels for international travel advisories: Level 1 (“exercise normal precautions”), Level 2 (“exercise increased caution”), Level 3 (“reconsider travel”) and Level 4 (“do not travel”).
Most countries in Europe are at level one, while France, Germany, Spain and the UK also currently have Level 2 advisories from the US state department.